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Good morning, Elle!
It's a fine dry day here with a touch of frost.
I can see you will be having a busy festive Christmas and New Year!
I have just put my puzzle away until later.
Halfway there and already two new words for me!
I just learned earlier that the Australian women's football team are known as the "Matildas"!
I like that!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a lovely day here too, blue sky and sunny, but cold at 3C!
I can tolerate the cold, though - I wore my down coat this morning - as long as it is fine!
I wonder why the football team is called the "Matildas"?
I thought that in Australian slang, a "matilda" is the "swag" carried by a bushman?
Some sort of a bed roll?
I'm only going off the song "Waltzing Matilda" here.....it may have another meaning?
Oh dear, if you are finding the crossword difficult today, what chance do I have ?!
I hope you get this before you go out with your granddaughter!
Have a good time!




Hello, Malone!
Thank you for the info...
That is indeed good news!
I shall look forward to seeing the tennis.
You have helped make my day!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, Matilda is a swag, but it is a woman's name, too.
I know Banjo Patterson wrote the the song "Waltzing Matilda" and it was the unofficial Australian national anthem.
So, I think it is a fine name for the Aussie women footballers.
I could not find out who Banjo's Matilda was, though.
I don't think the puzzle is especially difficult but it does have words which are new to me, but I'll get there!
Going out with my granddaughter shortly.

Update, Elle.
I had a look in my Brewer's and there is an informative piece on "Waltzing Matilda".
And, would you believe, the entry immediately above it is about the "Waltons"!
I'm off out, now!

Elle, I was pleased to have a little good news about tennis. It seems ages since we last had coverage. I know what we'll get next week will be far less than we'd like, but I'll take it anyway!

Hi, Rusty!
I hope you have had a good time at the Pine Cone with Miss L-B.
What did you have to eat?
And did you buy your Christmas cards, as you had hoped?
Yes, Brewers came up trumps with its info about Waltzing Matilda......and I was especially interested to read the piece about the Waltons!
I have "done" my puzzle after a fashion....
I found it a bit of a mixture.
I still have six clues that I am unable to solve...but I am pleased with my answers and parsings for the others.
I have put it aside for a while, and will go back to the rest later.
I am at present "organising" next year's Wall Calendar!

Hello, Elle!
Had a fine time at Pine Cone.
One of the girls who left in the summer, was home from Uni in London, and was in with Mum and Dad.
She loves London and is glad to be home for a week and her hair has become pink!
Was nice to chat to her again.
I bought no cards, but had a two-egg omelette with mushrooms and cheese, and a glass of water.
Glad you found the Waltons!
Did you know that the real life Waltons are the richest family in the USA?
They own the Walmart chain of stores, (and ASDA).
I have finished my puzzle.
Six new words for me in it, but I found yesterday's puzzle a bit harder.

You were discussing London art galleries a few days ago, as I recall. I've just read today that the National Portrait Gallery will be closed for three years from next June for a refurbishment. Better make that trip sooner rather than later!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
Our lovely day, that started with such promise, has degenerated into a dark, miserable afternoon that looks as though heavy rain is imminent!
And I was just thinking about going out for a walk .....oh dear!
I didn't know that there was a real life family of "Waltons"?
Are you meaning that the TV series was based on an "actual" family?
Or is this a different set of circumstances?
And another "family" altogether?
I know nothing about Walmart, either..... although I have obviously heard of it.
I am confused....
Now, my puzzle...I have managed two more clues!
So just 11a; and 1d and 6d; to do?
What am I not seeing there?




Hello, Chris!
Yes, the total closure of the NPG has come as a surprise....
Refurbishment there has been going on for the last twelve months, with rooms being close off...
But it has now been decided that it will be safer for the general public if the gallery closes completely until about 2023.
I shan't find that any particular hardship, as it is not one of my favourite haunts.

Hello, Elle!
It has became a bit dull here.
This is a completely different family of Waltons!
They started with a shop, in Kentucky or somewhere, and it grew into the Walmart chain of shops.
My son has been in Walmart stores in Florida and thinks highly of them.
He says they sell everything.
11, is a new word for me, Elle, and you may not know it.
It is a word for a Jewish meal.
Think of a word for "wed", remove the last letter and insert "ring=O".
6 is a new word for me.
A name for a sort of robot, I believe.
Operate is "go", with "Lunar Excursion Module".
1, is to do with car driving, but coming to a stop.
The explorer was a Scot.
The first word is a line shown on a map.
Hope that helps!